Rustico Italiano Ristorante

Lake Worth's little Italian eatery. I'm not sure how big of parties they can host because it's quite charming. Better for a more private dinner. We had an odd experience, but overall, the family and I enjoyed everything we had. By mistake, the waiter gave my brother-in-law the wrong meal. Our waiter insisted that he keep the error, stating that he would like it more, rather than immediately replacing it with what he had originally ordered. Being courteous, we uncomfortably obliged. I therefore assumed that his initial order would be shipped soon, but they never corrected their error and instead billed us for it.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 3

It’s the value proposition. We got two entrées and a couple of glasses of wine along with a little salad and a kids plate of pasta. That’s it. 200 bucks.

Don’t get me wrong – the food wasn’t bad. That’s not my complaint. My issue is that I had to spend 200 bucks.

If you have that kind of money to blow, then maybe this is the place for you. I won’t be going back. There are places I can get just as good food for a quarter of the price.

I wish this place luck.

5 stars
Rustico Italiano is hands down my favorite Italian restaurant in the Palm Beach area.. maybe all of FL! . I’ve been there multiple times, and every experience is just as exceptional as the last. The consistency in quality and service is truly impressive. Every dish is made with passion and authenticity — you can genuinely taste the love in the food. The pasta is always perfectly al dente, the sauces are rich and flavorful, and the seafood specials are out of this world. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, with a charming, rustic vibe that makes you feel like you’ve been transported to a small village in Italy.

What really sets Rustico apart is the staff — they’re not only friendly and incredibly knowledgeable, but they make you feel as if you’re a guest in their home. They take the time to explain the menu, offer thoughtful food and wine recommendations, and ensure that every detail of your meal is perfect. Their passion for great food and warm hospitality shines through every interaction. Whether it’s a romantic dinner or a special night out, Rustico never disappoints.

Very nice.

Have been going here for years nino warm friendly talks to each table food always a plus intimate will always return

My family and I recently had the pleasure of dining at Rustico Italiano Ristorante in Lake Worth Beach, and we had a fantastic time! From the moment we walked in, we were charmed by the quaint and elegant atmosphere. The owner Nino was a great host. It's the perfect setting for a special family dinner.
The restaurant is known for its rustic Italian cooking and house-made pastas, and everything we ordered was absolutely delicious.You can tell they use fresh, high-quality ingredients, and the dishes were prepared with care.
The service was also excellent

I really don’t like leaving bad reviews, but honestly, our experience at Rustico’s just didn’t live up to the hype. The owner was truly so sweet and welcoming, and we really appreciated that—but for how much we paid, the food just didn’t deliver.

We ordered two of the chef’s special appetizers. One was so salty I could literally feel the salt crystals crunching in my mouth, and the other just wasn’t our thing (which is totally personal preference). We were hoping the entrées would make up for it, but my husband’s chicken was completely raw in the middle. For a $34 dish, that’s a huge letdown. Mistakes happen, but raw chicken is kind of a big one. My dish was super average too—just really lacking flavor.

We had high hopes based on all the amazing reviews, but we left feeling disappointed (and still hungry). Just wanted to share our experience in case it helps someone else.

Now retired, each winter season, when my birthday in late March occurs, [and we are temporarily in Florida], I truly love having my birthday celebration with my family at Il Rustico, in Lake Worth, Florida, which is truly one of the two or three finest restaurants, in which I have ever eaten.

The owner of the restaurant, Nino, personally welcomes his clientele, and he not only provides a full menu of choices, but will always attempt to additionally create a dish, which you may request.

The service is excellent, surpassed only by the meals themselves. A week ago, in celebrating my birthday with my wife and family members, I had the truly delicious, excellently cooked branzeno fish dish, and be assured, everyone else fully enjoyed his/her meal.

The atmosphere is simply wonderful with the music being softly blended in, as opposed to some restaurants, wherein the music is so very loud, that you are not able to have a good conversation.

This restaurant is among the very best, and Nino's care in all aspects of a truly wonderful dining experience, is always quite evident.
Rich Sternberg

One of my favorite restaurants. Delicious food with excellent service.

We finally found our Italian restaurant for romantic evenings and incredible, authentic food. True Italians, your evening will be relaxed, filled with delicious dishes, and dedicated staff.

Rustico is a gem. My wife and I have been eating there for twenty years and it is by far our favorite restaurant. We discovered it when we first moved to Lake Worth Beach in 2005. We left Florida for Connecticut in 2018, but we make it a point to come back to Rustico whenever we visit the area. Nino is a terrific host and chef who has put together an outstanding and authentic Italian menu. While we usually order the fresh pastas and seafood, in many visits have never been disappointed by anything we have tried. The dishes rival the best Italian food you can find anywhere, and it is always worth saving room for the desserts. The restaurant itself is small and cozy, with a nice atmosphere and background music. The service is always terrific and unhurried, and whenever we take our seat, the tensions of the day just wash away - and we know we'll be in good hands for as long as we stay!

Food was quite good. I was on a business trip having dinner by myself - I was seated in a corner and ignored. Poor service

Okay you Northerners, especially those from NY(originally from
Brooklyn) pay attention to this...You remember that old school Italian restaurant family owned that had just a few tables, was intimate, with excellent food delicately prepared and the owner of course Italian and involved in your whole dining experience?....Well I finally found that place in Florida...Perfect menu size and hard to choose because I wanted everything on the menu!
Service outstanding.....Food absolutely delicious.....Great ambience....A MUST GO TO!!!!.....You will not be disappointed.

We had a good time with excellent service and the owner is very accommodating with request of grilled calamari/octopus with wine sauce that is very delicious and out of this world. The restaurant is small and cozy with nice ambience and very intimate feel. In a nutshell, we had a nice outing and will definitely return.

We just returned back after a wonderful dinner at Rustico. From the moment our group of four arrived, and was warmly greeted by Nino, until the time we departed, it was 5 stars all the way. The appertizers of mushrooms, and of canelloni with butternut squash were not only unusual but outstanding. The freshness of the ingredients were evident from the first taste. The main courses of red snapper with encrusted pistachios was just delightful, while my black squid pasta and shellfish was truly worthy of ten stars. The food was accompanied by a wonderful red wine montepulchiono de Abruzzo, and an excellent moscato de asti, plus a superb chardonay. Finally; on to the delicious ricotta cheescake, and a very fresh rasberry pie desert. Wow, what an incredible dinner. Last but not least, Nino providing a home made complimentary amaretto on the house. A fabuluous ending to a very memorable evening.
We look forward to returning upon our next return back to the Lake Worth area.
Mr. Manny